Auger ice maker



March 3, 1970 E. o. BENESH 3,493,031

AUGE R ICE MAKER Filed March 15, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 34 35EDGAR 0. BENESH Arromvcvs,

E. O. BENESH March 3, 1970 AUGER ICE MAKER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March15, 1968 A TTORNEYS United States Patent US. Cl. 62-320 4 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An icemaking machine having a centralevaporator casing surrounded by an outer casing to form a liquidreceiving chamber therebetween. Chilling of the inner evaporator casingcauses a quantity of the liquid to freeze to the evaporator outersurface. An icebreaking device is mounted for rotation in the chamberbetween the inner and outer casings, the icebreaker breaking the frozenliquid from the outer surface of the evaporator; and

the icebreaker, in conjunction with a helical land project- BACKGROUNDOF THE INVENTION The present invention pertains to icemaking machines ingeneral, and more specifically to a flake icemaking machine havingimproved ice-ejecting structure.

Flake icemaking machines are known in the prior art, for example, UnitedStates Patents Holden 490,475; Larson et a1. 3,049,896; Ross 3,101,598;and Schwertfeger 3,217,512, all disclosing various forms of flakeicemaking machines. All of these prior art patents disclose a'flakeicemaking machine utilizing a central evaporator casing which issurrounded by an outer casing to form a liquid chamber. The liquidchamber is filled with the desired liquid to be frozen, for example,water, and the chilling of the evaporator casing causes a quantity ofthe water to freeze on the outer surface thereof. Some form ofice-removing or icebreaking structure is mounted for rotation in thechamber adjacent the outer surface of the inner evaporator casing, andthe rotation of the icebreaking member causes removal of the frozen icefrom the outer surface of the evaporator. In the prior art patentsLarson et al., Ross, and Schwertfeger, an ice outlet is provided at theupper end of the outer casing, and the icebreaker is arranged so that inaddition to removing the ice from the outer surface of the evaporatorcasing it also lifts or transports this ice toward the ice outlet.

One particular problem with these prior art flake ice machines is thatthere is a decided tendency for the ice to jam or cake up at the upperpart of the outer casing, in some instances this ice jam blocking offthe ice outlet and continuing to build until further rotation of the icebreaker was prevented causing the ice machine to freeze up.

Some of the prior art structures, for example, Schwertfeger et al.3,217,512 and Pichler 3,220,215 have attempted to solve thisice-ejection and freeze-up problem by the utilization of an ice-removingmember having an inverted cone-shaped head portion mounted in overlyingrelationship to the central evaporator casing to engage the ice as it istransported in the chamber and deflecting it outwardly through the iceopening. However, since this Patented Mar. 3, 1970 "ice cone-shaped headportion of the ice remover also rotates with the icebreaker, thisconical head portion has a tendency to carry the ice around the insideof the chamber as it rotates. In many instances, this causes freeze upbecause of ice jams at the upper portion of the inner casing oppositethe ice outlet opening.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In the present invention a stationaryfrusto-conical element is mounted in fixed relationship with respect tothe rotating icebreaking and transporting member such that as the ice istransported toward the ice outlet end of the outer container it willengage the inclined surface of the stationary frusto-conical element andbe deflected through the ice outlet. The frusto-conical element has acentral aperture axially therethrough and is mounted to a top cover orend wall of the outer casing, the icebreaking and transporting memberhaving a shaft which extends through the aperture of the invertedfrusto-conical element and also through th end wall of the outer casingto be connected to a suitable drive mechanism. Since the invertedfrusto-conical element in the present invention is mounted in stationaryrelationship to the rotating ice breaking and transporting member thefrusto-conical ele ment has no tendency to carry the ice around theupper inside of the outer casing but rather tends to deflect it directlyoutward through the ice outlet.

Furthermore, the ice-removing and transporting member has a head portionhaving circumferentially equally spaced radially projecting lugs with arigid icebreaker extending from each of the lugs axially along the outersurface of the inner evaporator casing and in close proximity thereto. Aportion of each of the outwardly projecting lugs extends in closeproximity to the annular surface of the frusto-conical elements, so thatas the ice remover is rotated the portions of the lugs in close proximity to the frusto-conical element will clean the element and alsocause any lodged ice to be moved into the outward ice path travelthrough the ice outlet.

It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide animproved icemaking machine.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improvedicemaking machine which utilizes a stationary inclined surface mountedso as to engage ice being transported by an ice removing element anddeflect this ice transversely to its path of travel through an iceoutlet.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improvedicemaking machine wherein the ice ejector is in the form of an invertedfrusto-conical element.

These and other objects of my invention will become apparent to thoseskilled in the art upon consideration of the accompanying specification,claims and drawings.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like numerals represent like partsthroughout the several views:

FIG. 1 is a view partially in elevation and partially in verticalsection, parts thereof being broken away and shown in section;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the lines 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view in perspective of a portion of the present invention,portions thereof being broken away and shown in section;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the icemaker of the presentinvention, parts thereof being shown in elevation and parts in verticalsection; and

FIG. 5 is an elevational view of the outer casing utilized in theicemaking machine of the present invention.

Referring to the FIGS. l-S, there is shown an icemaking machine 10having a base portion designated generally as 11. Mounted on base 11 andextending vertically upwardly is an ice-freezing mechanism designatedgenerally as 12.

Ice-freezing mechanism 12 includes an upright inner evaporator casing 13secured in a base member 14. Base member 14 extends radially outwardlyfrom the lower end of the inner casing 13.

An outer casing 15 is coaxially disposed relative to the innerevaporator casing 13 and telescopes over the outer peripheral wall ofbase 14, base 14 forming an end wall for the outer casing 15. A liquidtight seal is provided between base 14 and outer casing 15 by means ofan O-ring mounted in the groove 16 in the peripheral wall of base 14.

The liquid refrigerant input line 17 and a refrigerant return conduit 18extend upwardly through the bottom of evaporator casing 13 to theinterior thereof. Liquid refrigerant is supplied to the interior ofevaporator casing 13 to chill the casing walls. The inner surface ofouter casing 15 and the outer surface of inner evaporator casing 13define an annular chamber 21. An input supply conduit 22 is provided inthe outer casing 15 to supply a liquid to be frozen, for example, water,to the annular chamber 21. A detachable end wall 23 encloses the upperend of the outer casing 15. End wall 23 has a central aperture 24therein, aperture 24 being coaxial with outer casing 15.

An ice-removing device 29 comprises a head portion 25 mounted in theouter casing 15 in overlying relationship to the inner casing 13. Headmember 25 includes a plurality of circumferentially equally spacedradially projecting lugs 26, and a downwardly opening annular recess 27.An annular bearing 28 is received in the recess 27. The bearing 28 isrotatably mounted on an upstanding spindle 30 which projects upwardlyfrom the top of the inner evaporator casing 13. One end of a verticallyextending bar 31 is rigidly secured to each of the projecting lugs 26 ofthe head member 25, each of the bars 31 extending into the annularchamber 21 along the outer surface of the inner casing 13. The other endof each of the vertically extending bars 31 are rigidly secured in anannular bearing 32 which revolves on the outer lower surface of theinner evaporator casing 13. Longitudinally spaced sections of the bars31 are undercut or otherwise suitably reduced radially to provide atleast one cylindrical boss 33 on each bar 31. These bosses 33 constituteicebreaking members, which revolve around the outer surface of the innerevaporator casing 13 in close proximity thereto.

The outer casing 15 includes a radially inwardly projecting axiallyextending helical land 34 which extends upwardly and terminates adjacentan ice-outlet passage 35 at the top of the outer casing 15.

A power unit 36 includes a drive motor 37 having an output shaft 38connected through a gear reduction unit 40 to a power output shaft 41.The power unit 36 is mounted by means of a power unit mounting bracket42 to the top of the ice-freezing mechanism 12, such that the powershaft 41 is generally coaxial with the outer casing 15.

A coupling means 43 having a central aperture 44 therethrough is mountedon power shaft 41 and is secured against rotation thereon by means of aset screw 45. Coupling means 43 has a pair of opposed downwardlyextending jaws 46.

Head member 25 of ice remover 29 has a pair of opposed upwardlyextending jaws 47, the opposed upwardly extending jaws of head 25 being90 displaced from the downwardly projecting jaws of the coupling means43. A block of suitably strong material, such as a metal or nylon block50 is mounted within the confines of the upwardly projecting jaws ofhead member 25 and the downwardly projecting jaws of coupling means 43to secure a power drive from the power output shaft 41 of power unit 36to the ice remover 29.

An annular inverted frusto-conical element 51 is rigidly mounted in theouter casing 15 on end wall 23. Head member 25 extends upwardly throughthe annular frusto-conical element 51 and through the aperture 24 in endwall 23 to make detachable connection with the coupling means 43 on thepower output shaft 41 of power unit 36.

Frusto-conical element 51 defines an annular surface 52 which divergesaxially outwardly toward end wall 23 and toward the ice outlet passage35.

Each of the outwardly projecting lugs 26 of head member 25 includes aportion 53 which extends upwardly and lies in close proximity to theannular surface 52 of the frusto-conical element 51 and an adjacentsurface portion ,of the outer casing 15.

Ice-outlet passage 35 extends horizontally into engagement with avertically extending chamber, or shaft, 55 which extends through thebase member 11 into an icegathering bin, or other suitable container(not shown).

An arm member 56 is mounted for pivotal movement around a shaft 57, arm56 extending into close proximity to the output passage 35. Arm 56 isfurther connected to a suitable shutoff mechanism, which may take theform of a photoelectric device, a mercury switch, or any other suitableshutoff means, which when energized will stop the operation of theicemaking machine.

OPERATION The operation of the icemaking machine of the presentinvention is as follows:

Water is introduced into annular chamber 21 by means of the liquidsupply conduit 22, and the chilling of the inner evaporator casing 13 bythe liquid refrigerant through supply line 17 causes a quantity of thewater to freeze to the outer surface of casing 13.

Motor 37 of power unit 36 causes power shaft 41 to rotate which in turnis connected through the coupling means 43 to the head member 25 ofice-remover 29 cansing the ice remover to rotate within the annularchamber 21 around the outer surface of evaporator casing 13 as the icebuilds up on the outer surface of casing 13 it will contact the bosses33 on the ice-remover 29. The bosses 33 will break flakes of ice offcasing 13 and the separated ice flakes will engage the helical land 34in the outer casing 15 and will rise to the top of casing 15 toward theice outlet passage 35.

As the ice is raised in the annular chamber 21 toward ice outlet passage35 it engages the annular surface 52 of the frusto-conical element 51.As explained previously, surface 52 of element 51 diverges axiallyoutwardly toward the ice-outlet passage 35 and therefore exerts atransverse force on the separated ice particles toward the ice-outletpassage 35. The separated ice particles pass through the passage 35 anddrop through vertical chamber 55 into an ice bin (not shown).

Since the frusto-conical element 51 is stationary relative to therotation of the ice remover 29, element 51 tends to stop the rotation ofthe iCe around the inside of annular chamber 21 and in turn directs thetransverse movement to the separated ice particles. In addition, any iceparticles which are not directed through the ice-outlet passage 35 arecontacted by the upwardly projecting portions 53 of the lugs 26 of headmember 25 and are carried around the upper portion of the annularchamber 21 until they are again carried into the ice fiow patternthrough ice-outlet 35. Thus, the divergent annular surface 52 of element51 in conjunction with the projecting portions 53 of the lugs 26 preventthe caking or jamming of separated ice particles in the upper portion ofannular chamber 21.

When the ice bin or other suitable ice container (not shown) is full,the ice machine will continue to operate until the ice builds up invertical chamber 55 such that pivotally mounted arm 56 is raisedsufficiently to operate the ice-machine cutoff mechanism.

When a sufiicient quantity of ice has been used from the storage bin,the ice level in shaft 55 will drop thereby causing pivotally mountedarm 56 to again activate the ice machine.

While I have shown a specific embodiment of my invention, it is to beunderstood that this is for the purpose of illustration only and that myinvention is to be limited solely by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. An icemaking machine comprising:

(a) an outer casing having opposite end walls having an ice-outletopening adjacent one end thereof;

(b) an inner casing within said outer casing, said inner and outercasings defining a chamber therebetween;

(c) means for supplying liquid to said chamber to be frozen;

((1) means for chilling the inner casing sufficiently to affect thefreezing on its outer surface of a quantity of the liquid within saidchamber;

(e) an inverted frusto-conical element rigidly mounted in said outercasing on one end wall, said frustoconical element defining an annularsurface which diverges axially outwardly toward said ice outlet, saidannular surface extending axially of said chamber for a distancesubstantially equal to the distance between the upper and lower limitsof said ice-outlet Opening; and

(f) an ice-removing means mounted in said chamber for removing frozenliquid from the outer surface of said inner casing and transportingfrozen liquid axially through said chamber toward said ice outlet, saidice-removing means comprising:

(1) a head rotatably mounted in said outer casing adjacent said one endwall in overlying relationship to said inner casing;

(2) a plurality of circumferentially equally spaced radially projectinglugs formed on said head adjacent said inner casing;

(3) a plurality of rigid icebreakers one each rigidly aflixed to saidlugs, said icebreakers extending axially along the outer surface of said6 inner casing and in close proximity thereto and at least one of saidlugs including a portion which lies in close proximity to the annularsurface of said frusto-conical element between the upper and lowerlimits of said ice-outlet openmg.

2. An icemaking machine as defined in claim 1 wherein:

(a) a power means is mounted on said one end wall, said power meansincluding a power output shaft generally coaxially disposed with respectto said inner and outer casings;

(b) a coupling means detachably connects said head to said power outputshaft for common rotation therewith;

(c) said frusto-conical element has an aperture extendmg axiallytherethrough; and

(d) a portion of said head extends through said aperture of thefrusto-conical element into engagement with said coupling means.

3. An icemaking machine as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said lugsincludes a portion which lies in close proximity to the annular surfaceof said frusto-conical element.

4. An icemaking machine as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said lugsincludes portions which lie in close proximity to an adjacent portion ofthe annular surface of said frusto-conical element and said outercasing.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,049,895 8/1962 Larson et a1.62-354 3,217,512 11/1965 Schwertfeger et a1. 62-354 3,220,215 11/ 1965Pichler 62-354 3,290,896 12/1966 Stiller 62-320 3,162,022 12/1964 Relphet al. 62-354 WILLIAM E. WAYNER, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 62-354

